The new Netflix series The Haunting of Bly Manor is the second series from Mike Flanagan, and once again he manages to deliver the goods, creating a show that leans into the Gothic aspect of horror (though some think it's not as good as the first season). The series focuses on the character of Dani, a young American who becomes the governess for a pair of British children living in a huge house in the countryside. Unfortunately, the house holds a whole host of secrets, and the spirits of the dead often come back to haunt the living, with truly dreadful consequences for all concerned.
In this series, the past is never far from the present (which is one of its many good qualities). While some characters are very bright, others are really quite dim.
Henry
Henry is the uncle of the two children (and, secretly, the father of the girl, Flora). From the beginning of the series he’s shown to be something of a jerk, divorcing himself totally from the children’s lives. He’s also shown to not be particularly bright in many ways, not least in the fact that he engages in an affair with his brother’s wife. How he thought that such a thing would never be discovered is really anyone’s guess.
Rebecca
Poor Rebecca Jessel is one of the series’ more tragic characters, particularly after she enters the orbit of the villainous and cunning Peter Quint. However, it has to be said that in some ways she brings a lot of her misfortune upon herself.
She knows very well what type of person Peter is, and yet she still allows herself to not only fall in love with him but also allow him to talk her into joining him in death. When it comes right down to it, she’s just not that bright.
Peter Quint
Peter Quint is also a memorably terrible person, which is saying something considering how many characters in this series have a very weak moral compass. Not only is he a tremendous cad, but he also shows that he’s not that bright. For some reason, he thinks it’s a good idea to try stealing from his employers (never a good idea) and, once his ghost comes to haunt the mansion, he also thinks it’s a stroke of genius to try possessing the bodies of the children. Needless to say, none of this turns out well.
Flora
No British Gothic show would be complete without two children. Thankfully, these ones are more likable than the ones that usually appear in such shows, and Flora is an especially lovable youth. She’s a fairly smart kid, but it has to be said that she’s a little too willing to let herself get taken in by the schemes of others, particularly once Peter starts scheming in an effort to allow Rebecca and him to take over the children’s bodies. And, of course, she also has those very strange and creepy dolls.
Miles
Like his sister, Miles is very precocious and, like her, he finds himself falling prey to Peter’s blandishments. From the very beginning of the series, he shows himself to be a particularly intelligent boy. When, for example, his sister begs him to return to Bly Manor (he’s been sent to a boarding school), he concocts a variety of elaborate schemes to get himself expelled. He’s not always the nicest of people, even when he’s not being possessed by the malevolent spirit of Peter.
Dani
Dani is, of course, the main character of the series, and the unfortunate governess who becomes ensnared in the dark halls of Bly Manor. One can hardly blame her for being a bit slow on the uptake, since anyone would find it difficult to cope with the many strange occurrences in the house.
However, it’s made pretty clear throughout the series, basically from the first episode, that Dani has a very particular form of emotional intelligence, one that allows her to connect with people in an intimate and meaningful way.
Hannah
Hannah is the housekeeper, and she seems to have one of the most level heads of anyone that appears. She sees right through Peter Quint, and she knows what kind of person he is (and she’s not afraid to tell him so). Unfortunately, he gets his vengeance on her by shoving her down a well, beginning a long cycle in which she refuses to admit that she is actually dead and is haunting the house as a lonesome spirit. Nevertheless, she shows repeatedly that she’s a very smart, perceptive person with a beautiful soul.
Owen
Owen is one of the best characters to appear in this show, largely because he seems to not have a single mean or malevolent bone in his body. In fact, in some ways he seems too good to be employed at a toxic place like Bly Manor. He also has quite a bit of intelligence, and this allows him to be able to take care of his mother who, it is revealed, has been suffering from the effects of advanced dementia for some time before the series begins.
Viola
For quite some time, it’s very unclear exactly what is going on at the house, and even at the end there are some unsolved mysteries. As the series comes to a climax, however, it’s revealed that a pair of sisters, Viola and Perdita, lived in the house. After Perdita murdered her sister in a fit of anger, Viola’s tortured spirit haunted the house, slowing adding more ghosts to its halls. Malevolent and mean as she often is, however, it’s made very clear that Viola is a fiercely smart woman, frustrated by the limits placed upon her because of her gender.
Jamie
Jamie the gardener is one of the most charming characters, and it’s immediately clear that there’s a lot of chemistry between her and Dani. She becomes something of Dani’s better half, the one who emotionally supports her after her body is inhabited by the vengeful spirit of Viola. She shows herself to be a woman of practical intelligence, the kind of person that one can rely on to be a source of emotional strength in times of great distress.